By In a significant blow to organized crime in Boston, federal prosecutors on Friday unsealed charges against 19 members and associates of two prominent street gangs, culminating years of multi-agency investigations into urban violence and criminal enterprises.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy announced that ten members of the H Block Gang are facing drug conspiracy charges, while nine individuals linked to the Mission Hill Gang are accused of orchestrating complex financial fraud schemes. This latest round of indictments follows a major operation in February that saw over 40 members of the Heath Street Gang arrested on racketeering and drug trafficking charges.
“Today’s actions demonstrate our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that have long plagued Boston’s neighborhoods,” Levy stated at a press conference. “These gangs have been at the center of violence, drug trafficking, and financial crimes that have terrorized our communities for far too long.”
The H Block Gang, with roots tracing back to the 1980s Humboldt Raiders in Roxbury, has been described in court documents as one of Boston’s most feared criminal organizations. The gang’s violent history includes a 2015 incident where a member shot a Boston police officer without warning or provocation.
According to the indictment, six H Block members were arrested in the current operation, with four others already in state custody. The charges stem from a multi-year investigation initiated in 2021 in response to a surge in gang-related drug trafficking and violence. Law enforcement officials attribute at least a dozen firearms incidents to H Block-related conflicts since the investigation began.
In a related scheme, three H Block associates face charges for attempting to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids and other illicit substances into Massachusetts prisons. The operation allegedly exploited prison mail policies by disguising drug-laced paper as legal correspondence, with authorities estimating that a single sheet could be worth up to $80,000 inside prison walls.
The Mission Hill Gang, operating primarily out of the Mission Hill neighborhood, is accused of running a sophisticated financial fraud operation known as “card cracking.” This scheme involved stealing checks from postal collection boxes, chemically altering them, and depositing the funds into recruited bank accounts for subsequent withdrawal or laundering.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox praised the collaborative effort, saying, “These investigations were intricately designed and carried out, often putting our officers in harm’s way. The result of this collaboration is a safer Boston for all our residents.”
Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division, emphasized the impact on community safety. “Operations like these have a direct, positive effect on the neighborhoods where these gangs sell drugs and perpetrate violence,” Belleau stated.
James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Boston Field Division, highlighted the use of crime gun intelligence in apprehending firearms traffickers and violent offenders.
The charges carry potential sentences ranging from 5 to 30 years in prison, depending on the specific crimes. The drug conspiracy charges alone could result in up to 20 years imprisonment, a minimum of three years supervised release, and fines up to $1 million.
Prosecutors noted that these cases were investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), utilizing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to dismantle high-level criminal organizations.
The successful coordination between various law enforcement agencies, including the Boston Police Department, DEA, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Department of Labor, signals a continued focus on disrupting gang activities and organized crime in Boston and surrounding communities.
As the cases proceed, authorities stress that the charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The indictments represent a significant step in ongoing efforts to combat urban violence and restore safety to Boston’s neighborhoods, with further investigations likely to follow.
Source: DOJ
